Typewriter support



Oct. 3, 1933.

Filed Oct. 24, 1930 E. E. AsH 1,929,048

TYPEWRITER SUPPORT 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEY,

E. E. AsH 1,929,048

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 3, 1933.

TYPEWRITER SUPPORT Filed Oct. 24, 1950 OC. 3, 1933. E. E. ASH 1,929,048

TYPEWRITER SUPPORT s /l L c /N VENTO/e Oct. 3, 1933. E. E. ASH

TYPEWRITER SUPPORT v 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 24, 1950 Lwltfill Patented Oct. 3, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENroFi-lfca Application october 24, 1930. serial No. 490,915 v v 15 clanes.l (c1. 31e- 29) This invention relates to an improved support for devices such as, typewriters, comptometers or other oflice machines that are desiredto be moved out of the way and into concealed positions and which support is adapted to be-mounted upon an ordinary at-top desk in'conjunction with which the devices are used. Y

An object of this invention is to provide a novel and improved means for supporting a typewriter or like machinerin. the usual opening pro-'- vided for knee-space in the desk and in sucha manner that it will normally be out of the, way of a person using the desk, invisible during. customary useof the room, and which will permit an increased capacity fordrawer space in a desk,

and an uncut desk top; as well as to permit manufacturers to adapt the device to desks of the flattop type and obtain either a right hand or` a left hand typewriter support. Y

A further object of the invention is to provide improved means vto supporta typewriter ror like machine and. to render it movable to and fromv a housed position with relationto a desk in conjunction with which it is used.

The support may be.' made in various sizes, with# out departingfrom the spirit of my invention, to adapt such support-to desks now in common use and havingthe usual 42, 52 or'inch top surtion to provide improved"means`for supporting a typewriteror like device in the rear portion of its housed position.: i

The invention further relates to an improved construction and arrangement of telescopic members on one of which the supporting shelf is mounted for lateral movement with relation toV 5.0 the desk.

Another object of the .inventionis to 'provide improved means for locking the supporting shelf in the operative position with relation to either side of the desk. L f* A further `object' of theiinvention is to provide More specifically itis anobject of` the inven-Y without requiring raspecial construction of4 such Other'objects, advantagesand features of a'novel and simple mechanism whereby an omce machine may be moved Vfrom'concealed ror housed position and supported Vonn either Vthe right or left hand side of a desk to whichmy mechanism has been applied. Y'

AV still further object is to provide a novel and simple means for equipping a flat top .desk fhavingdrawer spaces on each lside of lthe usual knee space with a. mechanism whereby cnice machines may be supported and housed in such knee space and moved to p ostionzfor useon either Vside of said knee space without interfering with access to such drawers except the uppermost drawer on the, side to which the ofllcemachine has been moved for suDpQrt. n

.'A still further object is to provideasupporting shelf for typewriters andnovel mechanism to permit adjustment of such shelf to) housed and unhoused positions and which mechanismis devoid of springs. -4 y Q y. A still further object Vis to provide novel means for supporting a typewriter which when moved into Vposition for use will; support such typelwriter-'rigidly and reduce vibration thereof when in use to afminimum.

-A still further object is to provide a novel means for adjustablysupportingl a ,typewriter to an office desk which is devoid of ,cut-tops or special compartments for housing such supporting means. r l Y A ,8,5 L `A still further object is to provide noveltypewriter supporting means that may be easily and quickly attached to desks n ow in common ,use

desk.

vention may appear from the accompanying drawings;l that subjoined detail descriptiom` and the appended claims. g

Referring `to the drawings which illustrate ,95 what is, deemed to be a preferredembodiment of the invention, v, 1

VFigurelV is a front elevation cfg-:a at. top desk showing the same equippedwith my `invention, the typewriter supporting means beingV adv justed tothe front portion of" the knee space wherein it is normally housed,-the position of the typewriter support' when adjusted for use at the right side of the desk being indicated in dash and dot lines. Q f v Fig. 211s a transverse section on ,line 2-'2-of Fig. 1, the carriage which supports the typewriterl being shown in full lines in the frontV portion ofthe knee space and its position when fully 110 retracted being indicated in ,dot and dash lines.v

Dash and dot lines also indicate the operative position of the typewriter and its supporting l base when adjusted to the righthand side of the desk; f

Fig. 3 is a cross-section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, the carriage and supporting means being shown in'elevation. Dash and dot lines indicating a fragment of the typewriter and its supporting base when adjusted to the operative position.'r

Fig. 4 is a fragmental sectional reproductionA on enlarged scale of a portion of Fig.V 3 illustrating more clearly the telescopic device which supports the typewriter platform, and parts winch co-operate therewith. Some parts are shown in elevation for purpose of clearness.

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on line 5-"5 of Fig. 3, parts being broken away to contract the havingthe outerjpairs of legs DI and the inner pairs of :legs Du Said legs DV and D support the desk top 9, stacks of side drawers 10 and middle drawer 10. I f

To the vupper portion of each of said side walls 11 of the 'knee space compartment 12 is secured a telescopic device having -an approximately transverse horizontal rail or guide 13 along which travels or'in'which is slidingly mounted a tram 14 which is adapted -to slide to the desk front and will presently be morefullydescribed. Said rails 13 are secured to the desk by any'su'itable means a'pertion of which'may consist of bolts 15 secured tolegsD'. Y v

lSecuredto the'frontend of the tram 14 s'an extensible supporting carriage or hanger V1,6 and 45 is adapted to be extended laterally therefrom at either end Vand .comprises `an` external telescopic member 20, which extends in an approximately horizontal direction and which is of a U-shaped character. A supporting'member a for the extensible support is provided with a wide slotor open sider whichextends from end to end thereof and which is directedltoward' the back of the desk. Said supporting member a is preferably aV bent metal plate, and -comprises fa Vlaterally extending top portion 161, an outer vertical portionr162 and the floor or bottomportion 163 which terminates in the inner, upwardlyprojecting-flange 164;

Describing more? fully the parts which are closely related to the tram 14.whi'ch travels along the rails V13, 'said rails are shown as being channel shaped and disposed with their open sides directed toward the knee space 12. The tram 1'4 also comprises channel shapedmembers'which y are 'integrally/"united at their front'ends by a channel shaped cross bar 24 to which, the top yportion 1161 of supporting rnembera is secured,

preferably'by-the screws 16". This'construction provides an inner frame for ythe vtyl'iewriter platform,=said frame having secured thereto the track rollers k25 which are fitted with a Working' fit between the upper flange 13 and the lower flange 13" of the channel shapedtrackrralls 13. Said rollm-25 are shown mountedupon pivot screws 25 :which screw into .theichannels on tram`14. Guide rollers 26 are mounted upon lugs 26 which project from the end portions of tram 14. Each track rail'13 has at its forward end an end iiange 130 which forms a stop engageable by the roller 25 on its respective side.

Within the external telescopic member 20 and the supporting member a, telescopes the internal telescopic -or extensible member which is a plate bent to a C-shape as viewed in cross section. Within the supporting member a there is a space below the inner telescopic member 35, and in this space are placed anti-friction rollers 166 which are pivotally secured to supporting ymember a and upon which the inner telescopic or extensible member 35 slidably rests.

The external extensible or telescopic member 20 is U-shaped in cross section and has pivotally and hingedly secured thereto by hinge 18 the supporting platform or shelf 21 to which a typewriter 22 or other olce machine may be attached. This member 20 has secured by suitable means, as rivets b, to the inner face of its rear limb, supporting means in the form of Va bar 36 from which project the pivotscrews 37 whereon are ymounted the rollers 17 that are rotatably fitted within the inner extensible or telescopic member 35 to provide means for readily and easily shifting the typewriter platform laterally to the right or left with relation to the desk and at the same time keep said platform from rotational displacement with relation to its axis. f

IThe movements of the extensible supporting vmember 16 leftward or rightward from the position thereof shown in Fig. 5 can only take place after the tram 14 yhas been moved forward tothe edge of the knee space 12 and projects the member 16 beyond the front legs D. Owing to the inner telescopic member 35 having mounted in each end portion thereof a roller which is engageable by the adjacent roller 17 carried by the bar 36, the bar 36 moves independently of said member 35 until these rollers contact, whereupon the'members 35 and 36 travel together until the movement of bar 36 is arrested by stop means described later.

The typewriter 22 is diagrammatically indicated by broken lines in an operative position in Fig. 2, where it is shown attached to a pivotally connected plate or shelf c that is secured to the base or machine supporting member 21 by means of a pivot post 23 in orderto permit a rotational adjustment thereof in a horizontal plane.

To each side of the base 21 to which the typewriter is attached is secured an angular locking arm 50, 51. These arms each have a shank portion 52 which lies in the same plane as, and extends along the typewriter base 21, in order that the terminal portions of said arms may be positioned for interlocking with the locking means in the form of hooks or fingers 40 secured to the-front of the desk. These hooks are by preference and as shown, formed integrally on hanger plates 40 which are secured to the desk by screws 40, and the hooks 40 are beveled on their inner surfaces to provide easy insertion of lockl ing arms or 51.

The locking hooks 40 are spaced apart the same distance asfthe arms 50 and 51 of the typewriter support2l with which they are adapted to cooperate. Said arms 50 and 51 are beveled at each side as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 to adapt them more readily to slide into engagement with said hooks 40, and then, when the swells betweenr the bevels are moved beyond the centers of the hooks, the typewriter base, which is then in horizontal position, is safely retained in. position for the typewriter to be operated. Stop pins 55 cooperate 'with arms 50` and '51 to `arrest the 'movements of the. parts `iust 'mentioned when they reach fully extended position. Said arms 50 and 51 are preferably recessed respectively at 50 and 51 in order to provide seats which engage said stop pins.

Thehacker the desk may be provided with the usualrear wall 60. *Screws 61, (see Figs. 2 and 3) vmay be provided to secure the rails 13 to the desk. i In mounting the device upon the desk, the typewriter should not be attached to the shelf c until after the other parts h ave been put in place. One of the tramsupportingrails 13 should first be secured in place, and then the tram 14 should be Vedged into engagement-with said rail, the other rail 13 having meantime been placedover the opposite end of carriage 14. Then the carriage as a Whole, which has necessarily been tilted tofperform the insertive movement just described, may be brought up to the proper approximately horizontal position, whereupon the rail last mentioned may be secured in place.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that an oiiice machine such as the typewriter 22 may be secured in any suitable manner to the shelf c and when the tram 14is moved to the rear of thedesk space 12,theV typewriter will be supported ina vertical plane where it vwill be out of the way of the knees or'legs of 4a person using the flat top desk to which my device has been attached.

In operation, that is to say, when it is desired and in which position the extensible supporting carriage 16 andV base 2l will be projected beyond the front surface of the desk as well as beyond the handles of the drawers as shown in Fig. 3, and by grasping the base 21, the same maybe moved either to the right or .left as desired. Y

When the arms 50 and 51 attain a position close to the hooks 40, the base 21 is swung about pivot 18 until the same assumes a horizontal position and with a slight forward movementthe arms 50 and 51 are brought into engagement by'hooks 40, and stop pin 55 will prevent further longitudinal movementof the typewriter support.

The external telescopic member 20 is notched as at B to provide stop means to prevent the extensible Asupporting carriage `17,6 from being extended beyond a satisfactory supporting position. Such stop B engages the upturnedend A of` hangar plate40". Said upturned end A provides a supporting means for the bar 36 which isbeveledat, A its ends as at 99 to provide for easy entry into the hooks formedfoy the upturned ends A, v

Whenit is desired to house thentypewriter` support, the reverse operation will be apparentyand when it is desiredto move the support either to the right or left, it is believed the same'will be apparent from the foregoing. A

When the typewriter shelf is positioned horizontally, the upper drawer 12 in the stack ofV drawers 10 will be closed 01T so that access thereto will not be possible until the support has been removed from in front thereof. However, the remaining drawers in the stack of side drawers l0 will be accessible for use. Y

The pivotally connected shelf c permits the ofce machine supported on my novel device to be adjusted for use by a personnormally seated at the desk, regardless vof whetherthe device is moved to the right or left handsideof the desk.

Iclaiinz, i1. In .combination,.a desk having a knee space opening,`rails mounted -upon said desk'at the sides of said knee space, a tram adapted to normally supportan oice machine in the rear part of said knee space, meansconnectingsaid tram to'said rails and being movable along said rails to convey themachine to one side ofthe desk, and a supporting member mounted upon said tram and movable in its entirety laterally with relation to said tram to either the right or left hand side of said knee space. `1 Y 2. In combination, a desk having a knee space opening out atzoneside thereof, rails mounted upon said desk at the sidesrof said knee space, a tram adaptedto normally support an oice machinein the rear part-of said knee space,means connecting said tram to said rails and being movable along'said rails toconvey the machine to one sideof the desk, a laterally extendable device mounted upon said tram." and a support member attached to saidv extensible device laterally mov-l other, oneof said members being open ended and connected to said supporting means, a supporting member for an office machine normally connected to the other of vsaidmembers and said other member being adapted to be moved from either end of said open ended member to either side of the knee space.

4. In a` device for mounting an ofiice machine upon a desk andfor shifting itfrom one position to another with relationV to such desk, a

relatively stationary telescopic member of a partially` tubular charactershaving an open side, meansto attach said member to the-desk in a substantially-horizontal position and with its open side directed toward one side ofthe desk, an internal telescopic member insertible within and extensible from said relatively stationary telescopic member, said'V internal member being substantially C-shaped in crossl section and `having its open siderdirected towards the open side of the other telescopic member, anti-friction rollers mounted within the lower portion ofl said vstationarytelescopic'member to support said internal telescopic member'during its extension and retraction; 1and a hangerto support an office machine in front of said telescopic members, said hanger comprisingv an elongate member which is 'substantially U-shapedin cross section ,and which includes between its limbs the lower portion of said ,telescopicmembers said hanger havingenti-friction rollers secured to the front side of its rear limb and located within said C-shaped telescopic member whereby it is extensibly supported fromlsaid C-shaped'member. v

5. An office machine supporting and adjusting means comprising in combination with a desk or like support, a telescopic device connected to said desk and slidable laterally relative thereto, a hinged support secured to said telescopic device; and a pivotal member on said hinged support adapted to pivotally support an office machine in a pendant position and to provide for rotating the office machine with relation to said desk, said hinged support permitting the machine to swing fromsuch pendant position to an upllli right position, and retaining` means secured to said desk to maintain the machine man upright position at either side of the front of 'the .desk while connected with said telescopic device, and said telescopic device iis extended to either side of said desk. 1 .l Y

6. .An ofiice machine supporting and adjusting means comprising, in combination with a desk or like support, .a telescopic device attachedto the desk, and including a carriage slidable laterally of said desk, a hinged base member supported by said carriage and swingable fromv a pendant to a 'substantially horizontal position, a pivoted element on the base member adapted to have an cnice machine attachedthereto, and retaining means secured to the front of. said desk'to maintain said base member in a substantially horizontal position vwith the machine pivotally mounted on said pivoted element.

'7. An oilice machine supporting' and adjusting means comprising, Ain combination with a desk or like support, a telescopic device adapted vto be extended along one side of the desk, a hinged base membersupporte'd by the telescopic device and adapted to support an oiTic'e machine, said hinged base member being connected so as to swing to a horizontal or vertical positionand be moved laterally of said deskY when said telescopic device is extended, and retaining means on said desk to lock said base member in aposition /wherein'the office *machine is operable, said'retaining means being engageable in a lateral manner as said telescopic device is `extended to approximately the end of saidfdesk.

8. An attachment forV desks comprising transverse rail members, a tram associated with said rail members and adapted to slide to the desk front; a carriage connected to said tram by means of' a telescopic device whereby it is adapted to be extended laterally therefrom at either end;

a hinged supporting shelf connected to said carriage; and locking means comprising cooperating elements secured to the front of the desk and to theshelf adapted to maintain saidsupporting shelf in a' horizontal position `when said carriage has reached the limit of its travel in either direction.

9. An attachment fordesks comprising rails, a tramslidably associated with said rails; a carj riage supported by said tram by means of a telemounted tram; a carriage supported by said tram;

means adapted to permit said lcarriage to be 'ex-Y tended laterally from either end of said tram; a hinged supporting member connected to said carriage and adaptedjwhen said carriage is moved to housed positionto depend therefrom in a substantially vertical position; and retaining means for maintaining said supporting member in substantially a horizontally plane when said supporting member is moved to unhoused and operative position. Y

1l. In combination with a desk, supporting means secured transversely of the desk side beneath the desk top; a tram slidably related to said supporting means; a hinged supporting member slidably mounted relative to said tram; and retaining means connected to said desk to engage said supporting member tormaintain said supporting member in horizontal position When said supporiing member is shifted about its hinge and laterally of said tram.

12. In combinationV with a desk, supportingA means-secured transversely of the desk side beneath the desk top; a 'tram slidably connected to said supporting means; retaining means secured to the frontrof said desk; a supporting member pivotally and slidably mounted relative to said tram; and means adapted to engage said retaining means to maintain said supporting member in horizontal position whenl said supporting member is shifted about its pivot and laterally of said tram."

13. Incombination with a desk, supporting means mounted transversely of the sides of said desk underneath the top thereof; a tram slidably connected to said supporting means, a supporting memberpivotally and slidably connected to said tram; retaining means connected to said desk; and means extending from said supporting member to engage said retaining means when said 110 supporting member is moved about its pivot and laterally from said tram.

14. VIn combination withv a desk, supporting meansjmounted on the inner sides of ysaid desk underneath the top thereof; a tram slidably 115 connected tosaid supporting means, a carriage supported by said tram and including extensile means; a hinged supporting member connected to said carriage; locking arms secured to said supporting member.; stop means secured to the front 1m of said desk; andretaining members on the front of the desk; said arms being adapted to engage said retaining members and engage said stop means when said extensile means is extended and said hinged supporting member is moved to horizontal position. f

15. In combination with a desk, supporting means mounted on the inner sides of said desk underneath the top thereof; a tram slidably connected io and supported by said supporting means; a carriage including extensile means connected to saidtram; a hinged supporting member connected to said extensile means; and retaining means connectedv to said desk and supporting member adapted to maintain said supporting 1 memberk in a substantially horizontal position when said supporting member is moved about its hinge and said eXtensile means are extended.- Y U ELMER E. ASH. 

